Recently, we examined the most popular books checked out by students using Booksource Classroom, our free, online tool that helps teachers across the country manage their classroom libraries. Guts took the number one spot in both the grades 3-5 and grades 6-8 categories. 

Books this popular engage students, hold their interest and get them excited about reading more. So, if your students love the Guts, what other books might they love? Keep reading to find out! 

1. Smile, Sisters, Drama & Ghosts 
by Raina Telgemeier 

All of Raina’s bestselling, award-winning graphic novels cover topics such as family, friendship, and the highs and lows of growing up. If you loved Guts, you’ll love her other books just as much. 

2. Real Friends series
by Shannon Hale

Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale and New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham join forces in this graphic memoir about how hard it is to find your real friends—and why it’s worth the journey. 

3. All’s Faire in Middle School
by Victoria Jamieson

Imogene is starting public school after being home-schooled by her parents who work at the Renaissance Faire. Imogene falls in with a group of girls who might not be as nice as they seem. She must decide how far she’ll go to fit in. Victoria Jamieson perfectly captures the bitter sweetness of middle school life with humor, warmth and understanding.
 

4. Berrybrook Middle School series
by Svetlana Chmakova

In this series of tales about the awkwardness of middle school, we follow a diverse group of friends as they figure out their place in the world, relationships with friends and family and more.  

5. Click & Camp series
by Kayla Miller 

A graphic novel series about navigating friendships and figuring out your place in middle school. Author-illustrator Kayla Miller has woven together a heartfelt and insightful story about navigating friendships, leaning on family, and learning to take the stage in the most important role of all – being yourself. (Act comes out in July) 

6. Emmie & Friends series
by Terri Libenson

Humorous and realistic portrayals of friends and “frenemies,” coming of age, figuring out where they fit in, and navigating middle school, in a graphic novel/heavily illustrated chapter book hybrid format. (Becoming Brianna comes out in May) 

7. Stargazing
by Jen Wang

Fans of Guts will love this heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel about two friends who struggle with life and what it means to be there for each other. Jen Wang draws on her childhood to paint a deeply personal yet wholly relatable friendship story that’s sometimes joyful, heart-wrenching and full of hope. 
 

8. Sunny Side Up
by Jennifer & Matthew Holm 

This moving graphic novel is the first in a series about Sunny, a girl growing up in the 1970s that shows a realistic portrayal of family life. Sunny has been packed off to Florida to live with her grandfather for the summer. But why is she sent there in the first place? The answer lies in a family secret that won’t be secret to Sunny much longer.

9. Cub
by Cynthia Copeland

Cindy is a school newspaper reporter during the Watergate era. Like Guts, this is a laugh-out-loud funny and empowering graphic novel memoir about growing up, coming of age and finding your voice. 

Are you a fan of Guts and Raina Telgemeier’s other books? What are some more books you love? Tell us in the comments!